A Bergen County man was sentenced to 86 months in prison for distributing and possessing child pornography, as announced by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba. The individual, Michael Kimmerle, age 35, from New Milford, New Jersey, admitted guilt before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court. He faced charges on one count of distribution and one count of possession of child pornography.
Between August 24, 2021, and August 7, 2022, Kimmerle distributed materials containing video files of child sexual abuse via a public online peer-to-peer file-sharing program. Law enforcement accessed the program through undercover online sessions, during which a user shared multiple video files from an Internet Protocol address linked to Kimmerle’s residence. A subsequent search of his residence on September 14, 2022, revealed over 600 thumbnail images of child pornography on his laptop, including images from previously distributed video files.
Judge Cecchi also sentenced Kimmerle to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $59,500 in restitution to the victims. U.S. Attorney Habba acknowledged the work of special agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations in Newark, directed by Acting Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, in the investigation that led to Kimmerle’s sentencing.
The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea D. Coleman of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark. The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006, this project utilizes resources from federal, state, and local levels to apprehend and prosecute those exploiting children and to rescue victims.
For additional information on Project Safe Childhood, interested parties are encouraged to visit the Department of Justice's website.
The defendant was represented by John J. Bruno, Jr., Esq., based in Rutherford, New Jersey.